An Assessment of the Potential Use of BNNTs for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy

Abstract

Currently, nanostructured compounds have been standing out for their optical, mechanical, and chemical features and for the possibilities of manipulation and regulation of complex biological processes. One of these compounds is boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs), which are a nanostructured material analog to carbon nanotubes, but formed of nitrogen and boron atoms. BNNTs present high thermal stability along with high chemical inertia. Among biological applications, its biocompatibility, cellular uptake, and functionalization potential can be highlighted, in addition to its eased utilization due to its nanometric size and tumor cell internalization. When it comes to new forms of therapy, we can draw attention to boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), an experimental radiotherapy characterized by a boron-10 isotope carrier inside the target and a thermal neutron beam focused on it. The activation of the boron-10 atom by a neutron generates a lithium atom, a gamma ray, and an alpha particle, which can be used to destroy tumor tissues. The aim of this work was to use BNNTs as a boron-10 carrier for BNCT and to demonstrate its potential. The nanomaterial was characterized through XRD, FTIR, and SEM. The WST-8 assay was performed to confirm the cell viability of BNNTs. The cells treated with BNNTs were irradiated with the neutron beam of a Triga reactor, and the apoptosis caused by the activation of the BNNTs was measured with a calcein AM/propidium iodide test. The results demonstrate that this nanomaterial is a promising candidate for cancer therapy through BNCT.

Boron neutron capture therapy: Current status and future perspectives

“…The stable boron delivery agents with low and high molecular weight connected with a tumor-targeting component or moiety via a hydrolytically stable linkage (boron carriers) belong to this group of compounds ( Figure 2). In particular, these thirdgeneration boron compounds include boronated DNA intercalators [30], boronated amino acids [31], boronated lipopeptides [32], boronated peptides [33], boronated folate receptor [34], boronated epidermal growth factor (EGF) or epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) [35], boron-containing immunoliposomes [36] and liposomes [37,38], BSH-loaded polymeric micelles [39], transferrin-polyethylene glycol liposomes [40], maleimide-functionalized closo-dodecaborate albumin conjugates [41], carboranyl nucleosides [42], boronated porphyrins [43], boron-containing nanoparticles [44] coupled with cationic microbubble-assisted focused ultrasound (MB+FUS) treatment [45], pentanuclear porphyrazine complexes [46], boronated cyclic peptides [47], and boron nitride nanotubes [48].…”

The Properties and Preparation Methods of Different Boron Nitride Nanostructures and Applications of Related Nanocomposites

“…[37] BNNSs refer to BN with single or fewer layers, and BNNTs can be regarded as a tubular structure curled by BNNSs, [38,39] two different morphological structure models are shown in Figure 2. Among them, one-dimensional BNNTs have high electrical insulation properties, [40] and its band gap energy is not affected by either tube diameter or chirality. [41] BNNTs are commonly used in polymers, ceramics and metals to significantly improve the properties of composites.…”

Dynamic thin film mediated slicing of boron nitride nanotubes

“…However, BNNTs possess different physical properties, including having a wide band gap (5.5 eV) dielectric, 1,2 with photogalvanic, 3 thermal conductivity and stability at high temperature (up 900 C), 4 and high neutron absorption. 5 Methods for preparing BNNTs encompass substitution reactions, 6 laser ablation, 7 chemical vapor deposition (CVD), 8,9 arc-discharge 1,10 and ball-milling. 11 There are three inter-related boron nitride structures, (i) straight-walled BNNT, 12,13 (ii) bamboo-type BN [13][14][15] and (iii) ower-type BN.…”

“…11 There are three inter-related boron nitride structures, (i) straight-walled BNNT, 12,13 (ii) bamboo-type BN [13][14][15] and (iii) ower-type BN. 16 The straight BNNTs have potential in a number of applications, including in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), 5,17 hydrogen storage, 16 orthopedic implants, 18 biosensing 19 and biomedical areas in general, 2 and more. [20][21][22] The length of BNNTs is important in a number of applications, in nanodevices, 20 nanomedicines, 22 sensors and composites.…”